Trade Show News

"The Pennant," a new 144-room Marriott Tribute hotel, is planned for the 18th & Vine District as part of the "NLBM Campus" development. This hotel will feature dining options, retail spaces, and importantly, conference and meeting rooms, along with ground floor and rooftop bars. Major construction is anticipated to start by the end of 2026.

The Lawrence City Commission has approved up to $100 million in bonds for the second phase of KU's Gateway project, which includes a convention center and a roughly 150-room hotel projected to open by late 2028. The project aims to boost the city's ability to host larger conferences.

KCUR reported that Kansas City generated less revenue from the 2026 FIFA World Cup than initially predicted, despite attracting a higher number of visitors. This financial outcome provides insight into the economic impact of large-scale events on the city.

T-Mobile Center, a prominent Kansas City venue, has announced a new partnership with The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center and Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. This collaboration aims to enhance hospitality offerings and accommodations for events and visitors to the center.

The Downtown Council of Kansas City's "State of Downtown 2026" report highlights ongoing developments and future proposals, including a potential Downtown Ballpark District and KC Streetcar expansion. These initiatives aim to enhance downtown's appeal as a connected and welcoming community for businesses, residents, and visitors, indirectly supporting the convention and tourism sectors.

A job opening for Director of Marketing & Communications has been posted for the Kansas City Power & Light District, which connects the renovated Bartle Hall Convention Center, T-Mobile Center, and other downtown developments. This role involves developing a strategic marketing vision to enhance brand awareness and drive foot traffic for the district.

Encore Global is actively seeking a Senior Event Technology Director for a position in Kansas City, KS, indicating a personnel move within the event technology sector. This role is crucial for supporting trade shows and conventions by driving revenue goals, managing operations, and ensuring world-class service and client satisfaction for assigned locations.

The Kansas City Chiefs are seeking a Director of Event Management to lead the planning and execution of corporate events at Arrowhead Stadium. This role involves strategic leadership, operational oversight of client relations, venue operations, and hospitality, and ensuring exceptional event experiences.

Informa Markets is seeking an Account Executive to manage client relationships and drive revenue for SupplySide events, with the position open to candidates in Kansas City. The role involves attending trade shows, building rapport with exhibitors, and leveraging industry insights.

INDA leaders discussed the decision to move the IDEA®27 nonwovens trade show to Kansas City, highlighting expected cost savings for exhibitors due to lower labor costs compared to Miami. The new venue at the Kansas City Convention Center and the collocated RISE® technical conference are also cited as benefits.

The Kansas City AI Expo 2026, billed as the region's largest gathering of companies building with artificial intelligence, is scheduled for November 10, 2026, at The Mint in Lenexa, KS. The event will feature over 30 Kansas City AI companies, live AI demos, and open networking for an anticipated 500+ attendees.

The invitation-only Grassroots Connect Fall/Winter show is being hosted at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO, from November 9-12, 2026. This event focuses on buying and selling, product development collaboration, and learning about industry trends for independent specialty outdoor retailers and top brand exhibitors.

Kansas City is set to host several conferences in late 2026, including the EPCOR Payments Conference (Nov 2-4, Overland Park), the MHA Annual Convention (Nov 4-6), the FALCON Annual Conference (Nov 6-8), Sigcse Kansas City (Nov 12-15) for computer and gadgets, and the Western Seed Association Convention (Nov 16-20) for the agriculture industry.

Several major conventions are slated for the Kansas City Convention Center in late 2026. These include Meeple-A-Thon, Kansas City's largest board gaming convention in November; Mecum Auctions from December 3-5, featuring approximately 700 vehicles; the KOA Annual Convention & Expo for outdoor-hospitality professionals; and DFSCON, a convention for book lovers and storytellers, also in November.

The Kansas City Star reported on the Kansas City Chiefs' role in amplifying the moving Berlin Wall exhibition at Union Station. This article underscores a significant exhibition hosted at a prominent Kansas City venue.

Kansas City's municipal council has approved the first phase of a $500 million, ten-year plan to renovate its convention center. The initial $75 million phase, scheduled for 2028, will modernize the Municipal Auditorium and Music Hall, improving stands, restrooms, food service, and accessibility. The overall project aims to create new exhibition and meeting spaces through 2036, making the facilities competitive for the next century.

Kansas City has approved Resolution No. 260960, moving forward with a $500 million vision plan to modernize the Kansas City Convention Center and Municipal Auditorium. Initial phases, funded by a voter-approved $100 million bond, will focus on restoring Bartle Hall, Municipal Auditorium, and the Music Hall to enhance competitiveness.

Kansas City approved a resolution to advance a long-term vision plan for its Convention Center, beginning with a $75 million restoration of Bartle Hall, Municipal Auditorium, and the Music Hall. This initial phase is part of an estimated $500 million in convention upgrades over the next decade, funded by a voter-approved bond.

Kansas City approved a resolution to advance a long-term vision plan for the Convention Center, beginning with the restoration of Bartle Hall, Municipal Auditorium, and the Music Hall. The initial phase, targeted for 2028, includes $75 million in improvements for modernized arena seating, restrooms, concessions, and improved accessibility. This work is funded by a $100 million bond approved by voters in August, with approximately $75 million allocated for the convention complex.

Kansas City officials on November 5 advanced a plan to modernize the city's convention and entertainment campus, outlining a $500 million vision extending through 2036. The proposal includes approximately $75 million for initial improvements to historic facilities like Municipal Auditorium and the Music Hall, with broader convention center improvements proposed for later phases. The City Council approved Resolution No. 260960, directing the city manager to evaluate a plan from architecture firm Populous and procure initial renovation work.